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How We Arrived At This Chapter 40B Project
Understanding the genesis of the proposed Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village project is crucial. It primarily stems from the developers, Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa, operating under different limited liability corporations, failing to address public safety concerns and not adhering to Millbury Zoning Bylaws and Subdivision Rules and Regulations in their initial development attempt at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts. This appears to be a recurring trait characterized by arrogance and entitlement.
Reasoning For Medfield Meadows Denial
Medfield Meadows was a proposed Chapter 40B project (non-Local Initiative Program (LIP)) originally proposed to have 200-units on two parcels of land on both sides of North Meadows Road (Route 27) in Medfield, Massachusetts, that was scaled-down to 183-units before it was outright denied by MassHousing. It is true, not all Chapter 40B projects get approved. Below are direct excerpts from the official denial letter.
Rice Pond Village Denial
On Monday, January 24, 2022 and Monday, February 14, 2022, the Millbury Planning Board voted to deny the multifamily special permit and site plan review for the proposed Rice Pond Village project, proposed to have 46-dwelling units, on the 15.4822± acres of land owned by the Rice Pond Realty Trust, John Antaya, Kathleen (McLaughlin) Mardirosian, and the McLaughlin Family Living Trust; and the applicant Whitney Street Home Builders LLC, while approving the post-construction stormwater management permit for the proposed Rice Pond Village project with a project address of 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts.